A cock is the male of any type of domestic fowl, and cockfighting is a blood sport in which two (or more) cocks are placed in a ring or confined area and encouraged to attack or fight each other. Cockfighting is illegal in all 50 states and the District of Columbia—but remains legal in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Although cockfighting is illegal in all states, the potential punishment for the crime varies from state to state. In thirteen states, a first offense charge of cockfighting is a misdemeanor—including Alabama, California, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. But in California, Louisiana, and New Mexico, second, third, and subsequent offenses may be prosecuted as felonies.

And some states also prohibit possession of cockfighting tools (implements) such as a gaff or slasher; ownership and training of cocks for the purpose of cockfighting; and attending cockfighting events.
Cockfighting laws are generally located in a state’s statutes—and usually in the state’s penal or criminal code.

In Indiana, cockfighting is illegal and considered a serious crime. Under Indiana Code Section 35-46-3-9, a person who knowingly or intentionally purchases, possesses, sells, transfers, or manufactures cockfighting paraphernalia, or who owns, possesses, keeps, or trains an animal for the purpose of animal fighting contests, is committing a Level 6 felony. Additionally, being a spectator at an animal fighting contest is a Class A misdemeanor. Indiana law is stringent on this matter, reflecting the state's commitment to animal welfare and the prohibition of animal fighting. The penalties for these offenses can include fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the crime and the criminal history of the offender.